Bag packing and sewing machine



Jan. l, 1929.

` J. R. BARTLETT BAG PACKING AND SEWING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17, 1926 Jan. ,1, 1929.

J. R, BARTLETT BAG PACKING AND SEWING MACHINE v Sheets-sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1926 Jan. 1, 1929.

J. R. BARTLETT BAG PACKING AND SEWING MACHINE y"7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 17, 1926 INVENTOR YW/l f Ma ATTORNEY Jan. l, 1929.

J. R. BARTLETT BAG PACKING AND sEwING MACHINE Filed July 17,

196 7 Sheets-Sheetl 4 Jan. l, 1929.

J. R. BARTLETT BAG PACKING AND SEWING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Rw Y mr m mw. m MH. MQ ,Ml Sf MB Jan.

J. R. BARTLETT 'BAG PACKING AND SEWING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1926 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Y E N R O T. T A

Jan. l, 1929. 1,697,706

. J. R. BARTLETT BAG PACKING AND SEWING MACHINE Filed July 17, '1926 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 MN l I Patented dan. 1,. lfl

f srares BAG PACKNG AND Application filed Jufy 17,

My invention relates to bag packing` and sewing machines and more particularly to one i'or use in flour mills for packing and sewing bags of flour.

lt is the principal object .my invention to provide a bag packing. and sev-.fr machine by which lour oi' other material may be proprly packed in bags and the bags served with` a stitch corresponding to that employed in hand sewing and With which the string may be easily and quickly severed and removed. Without damage to the bag.

11i aecomalishing Vthis and other objects of the invention l have provided improved details or' structure, the preferred Aterms o'l whichv are illust-rated in the aecompanying, drawings wherein l Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a bag` packing and serving machine constructed ae- @Ordingl to my invention.

2 is a plan vievv of the machine.

3 is an end view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view through the maehine on the line il, l? 2.

Fie

Big'.

is a detail sectional view through the tnrntable and one of the bag' iilling mandrels, illustrating the filling of a bag.

Fig. 6 is a detail, fragmentary view ot one ot the main drive gears, illustrating the stop 'lor aligning the gear in its normal position.

Fig'. 7 is a detail view, illustrating the position of the bag just before the packing piston pushes lie bail; f i of its niandrel.

Fi 8 is a similar vieiv illustrating' the bag -`usVIT alter it li been removed from its mandrel; and sliouf'inp,- the e @aged by the clamping; jaws preparatory to the rolling of the top to close the bag'.

1 9 a detail pei,'spr, etivr view ot the V cutter. 10 is a mrspeetive view of the top roll v ing clamps, the needle and the ear tying; disks in their normal. positions.

. .11 is a similar lview showingl the needle beingi driven through the roll formed at the top et the bag. Fig. l2 an enlarged detail perspective view of one of the string gripping; jaws earried by the ear tying disks.

Fig. 13 is a detail elevational View, illustrating the needle at the end oi" its travel preparatory to drawing` astring tarough the arial-sr eeF'jives-g.- f.

SEWJNG MAGHNE.

1926. Serial No. 123,050.

roll formed at the ktop the bag, the'. ear tying disks being` in position to receive the ends of the string. i i Fig. 141 is a similarvievf showing the string drawn through thel bag andthe stringclamps on the ear tying disks engaging the ends of the string ready to tie the string. c Fig. 15 is a similar view, showing the tying disks drawing the ends of the string taut toV tie the ears formed on the bag.`

Fig. 16 is an enlarged, detail sectional view through one of the bagl gripping clamps.

Fig. 17 is a detail perspective view of the end of the needle in position to engage the string. f 18 is a sectional view of the' end of the needle and the 'string positioning` reel7 illustrating the needle just before it engages the string.

Fig. 19 is a similar View illustratingthe needle engaging the string. i

Fig. 2O isa perspective view of a bag` after it has been filled and seived.

Referringmore in detail to the drawings l lower frame member and an intermediate trame member 6*, all preferably consisting oi' castings connected by bolts to form a rigid structure, and the Aside members 2 andA 3 having flanges 2"'-3 by which theframe may be anchored tothe floor. l

Supported Within the frameby ar bracket 7 Fig'. 4l) on the side frame member 3 and exten din g vertically tlirough the frame. niember 6 is a tubular stand 8 having a flange 9 at its upper end vfor supporting a turntable 10 (llie's. 1, 41 and 5). rlhe turntable 10 coinprises a. disk 11 provided about its periphery with a plurality of' openings 12 inv which are suspended bag-receiving mandrels 13, each through from a delivery spout 16 (Fig. 3,). f

opening in line with the upper end oi the mandrels. AS the bags are ii-lled, they are to the shaft by a key 24. The clutch mem-y ber 23 is provided with teeth 25 engageable with complementary teeth 26 on the pulley 22, so that when the clutch member 23 is slid into engagement with the constantly driven pulley, the shaft will be driven as long as the sliding clutch member is held in engagement with the clutch member on the pulley. Pinned to the shaft is a bevel gear wheel 27 meshing with a bevel gear wheel 23 pinned to a vertical shaft`29 journalled in a. bearing V30 on the frame member 5, and pinned to the shaft 29 is a segmental gear wheel 31 (Fig. 2) which meshes with a pinion 32 on a vertical shaft 33 rotatably mounted in the frame members 5 and 6.

The shaft 33 extends upwardly to adjacent the turntable 10 and carries a. pinion 34 at its upper end. The pinion 34 engages teeth 35 on the periphery of the turntable 10 so that when the clutch is in, the turntable is rotated in a clockwise direction as designated by the arrow, Fig. 2. The clutch member 23 is con- Y trolled by a rod 36 slidably mounted in the side frame member 3 and carrying an arm 37 terminating in a fork 37 which engages in an annular groove 38 in the hub of the clutch member 25. The free end of the rod carries a roller 39 normally engaging in a notch 40 (Fig. 6) in a flange 41 on the bevel gear wheel 28 and held therein by an expansion sprin g 42 on the outer end of the rod, one end of the spring bearing against the side frame member 3 and the other against ra head 43 carried on the end of the rod. Thus it will be seen that when the clutch is out, the gear wheel 28 will be locked from rotation, but when the rod is slid forwardly to throw in the clutch, the gear wheel 28 will be released. The gearing is so timed that during one-half revolution of the gear wheel 28 the turntable will advance one mandrel space in a clockwise direction. In the machine illustrated there are eight mandrels and the turntable advanees'45 degrees each time the clutch is engaged. l

Due to the segmental gear, the turntable is idle the otherhalf revolution of thegear wheel 28 for a purpose hereinafter described..

Afterv the bag is filled and the turntable advanced one space,`the bag comes into alignment with a` packer plunger 43 on a rod 44 slidable in a bearing 45 carried in the top frame 4 and the plunger is moved downwardly into the mandrel to pack the flourby an arm 47 integral with a collar 48 on the pinion 49 slidable vertically in the stand 8 about a stationary, vertical screw shaft 50 lined between the bracket 7 and the top member' 4 by a nut 51 which draws a shoulder 52 on the shaft against the member 4 to prevent rotation of the shaft.

rihe shaft 50 is provided with a spiral thread 53 which engages an internal thread 54 in the top of the pinion 49 so that as the pinionis rotated it is moved longitudinally to lower and raise the plunger to compress and pack the flour in the mandrel. rlhis is an important feature for by packing flour in the mandrel instead of directly in the bag, liability of bursting the bag is eliminated as all the packing pressure is on the mandrel.

During the packing operation the toothed segment gear 31 has left the pinion 32 and the turntablel() remains idle. At this time another is placed on an empty mandrel which has previously moved to position in front of the operator. T he packing plunger is moved downwardly on the third quarter revolution of the bevel gear wheel 28 and up on the fourth or final one quarter revolution of the gear wheel by the following meehanism:

0n the upper end of the shaft 29 is fixed a spur gear wheel 55 carrying a quarter segment of a gear 56 on its upper face (Fig. 3)

which is adapted to mesh `with a pinion 57 on a shaft 58 during a quarterl revolution of the gear wheels 55 and 28. The shaft V58 is mounted on an extension 7 of the bracket 7 and in a bearing 6 in the horizontal frame member 6. Mounted upon the upper end of the shaft is a gear 59 which meshes with the elongated pinion 49 to cause the pinion to rotate and thread itself downwardly on the rod, carrying the plunger arm with it, packing the flour.

lhen the plunger reaches the end of its stroke, the, pinion 57 is freed from its engagement with the segment 56 and engaged by a quarter segment gear 61 to rotate itin the opposite direction, raising the plunger to its retracted position to permit a further advance of the turntable. The segment 61 fined on the face of a gear wheel 62, on a shaft 62l iournalled in the frame member 5 and driven from the gear wheel 55 in a direction reverse to the gear wheel 55 which threads the elongated pinion upward..

In the machine illustrated, after four operations of the clutch, the first bag to be inserted reaches the discharge position where the filled bag is removed from the mandrel. Also carried by the collar 48 at the top of the elongated pinion is an arm 63 (Figs. 2, 7 and 8) which carries .at its free end a discharging plunger 64 and at each side' of the arm 63 are arms 65 and 66 carrying depending rods 67 and 68 which support a seat 69 neoryzoe moves downward, it will also lower the ejector and at the same time the seat 69 to push the paclzed flour out of the mandrel and into the bag, the bag being lowered with the seat until the top of the bag comes into alignment with a pair of clamps 7 0 and Z1 7 and 8.) where the top edges of the bag are pushed into the open of the clamps by spring actuated vfingers T2 and 73 carried by the' ejector. r1`he fingers 72 and 7 3 are triangular in shape and are lined to spring arms TA1 and attached to the inner face of the discharge plunger by rivets or the like 76. Due to the spring arms, the lingers tend to more outwardly through slots 77 and 'i7' in the lower end of the discharge plunger, but are nermally held within the plunger by a ring 73 encircliny the plunger' and supported above the turntable by' a bracket T 9 suspended from the top frame member L1. is the plunger moves downwardly through the ring7 the fingers are released and slide in 'the mandrel until they spring outwardly through slots 30 and 31 in the mandrel to extend the sides of the bag outwardly into the clamps, as best shown in Fig. 8. uWhen the plunger is returned to its normal position, the upper inclined faces of the fingers engage the ring and are again retracted into the discharge plunger.

The clamps 70 and 71, as best illustrated in Fig. 16, each comprises a gear 83 3rovided with an integral side flange 301 on its inner face and carried by the flange in 'a hollow, cone-shaped extension 35 having slots longitudinally of its center as at to admit the edges of the bag into the jaws contained within the extension. r1`he j -ws 3T each comprises semicone-shaped members 33 and 39 provided with gripping faces 90, the jaw members being normally retained in the rear, enlarged portion of the cone-shaped bore in the extension 85 and urged apartby an expansion spring' 91, the opposite ends of which are mounted in recesses 92 in the adjacent faces of the jaws.

rl`he jaws are held from rotation within the cone extension by pins 93 and 93 extending.

through slots 94 and 941 cut longitudinally in the extension at right angles to the slots 86 so that the aws can slide longitudinally in the bore but are retained in alignment with the hag admitting` slots 86. The jaws are urged into clamping position in the restricted end of the here by a spring 95 contained within the bore of the gear and coiled about the shaft 96 slidably mounted in and upon which the gear 33 is rotatablyr mounted; one end of the spring` bearing against the hub of the gear wheel and the other against a head 97.011 the shaft. The plunger is no1"- riage 112.

n'ially 'retained from engagement with the` jaws by a cam 99 10)` carried on thc forward ends of a rail 100 or 101 adjacent to the bag seat 6.9 so, that when the clamps are in bag-receiving position the inclined facesv 102L of the cams engage the inner faces of disks 1011 fixed to theft-ee ends of the shafts as shown in Fig. 10', and hold heads 97 away from the jaws. i

The wheels 83 arey rotatably mounted in bearings 106. and 107 and are retained therein by washers 102` on the shafts and by pins 109 extending through the shaft and engaging the sideof the bearing.

rlChe bearings 106 and 107 are fixed to the arms 110 and 111 which slide on rails 100 and 101 and constitute forward guide arms for a carriage 112 which is also provided with laterall f extending Ouide arms111 and 115 sa@ on its rear end (1* ig. 2).

The guide arms 110-111 are provided with lips`110 which extend over thetops of the rails 100 and 101 so that the carriage may slide alongv the rails longitudinally of thel machine and away irom the bag seat G9, as hereinafter described. The rails 100 and 101 are mounted longitudinally of the machine, one at each side ofthe seat 69 and fixed at their lends to the end frame membersA byV bolts 117 (Figs. 1 and 2). Y

Fixed to the inner sides of the rails 100 and 101 and in mesh with the clamp piniens4 are rack bars 113 and 119 so that as the carriage is moved along the rails the pini-ons will rotate on their shafts, rotating the. clamps and rolling the open edges of the sack in a roll 120 (Figs. 13, 111: andl 15) preparatory to the sewing operation. Y

.actuation of the carriage is effected by the following mechanism.: i

h/ieshing with the gear wheel 121 on the shaft G2 is a gear wheel (Fig. 2) rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 122 fixed in the intermediate frame member 6. rill'he gear wheel 122 carries a horizontal segment 123 on its upper face which meshes with bevel gears 12e and' 125 carried at opposite sides of the airis of the wheel 122 on arshaft 126 ro- 'atably mounted in bearings 12'? and 123 in arms 129 and 130 carried by the respective side frames 3 and 2. Pinned to the shaft 120` is a gear wheel 131, driving a gear wl-ieel'l-li rotatable on a shaft 133 mounted on the arn'i longitudinally beneath` the carriage heretofore described.

rl'he gear wheel 132 meshes with an elongated' pinion 1311 (Figs. 1 and 2) rotatably mounted in bearings 135 and 136 on the car- The pinion 13a is internally threaded to receive a threaded rod 137, one end of which ezitendsthrou'gh the pinion, the other end being mounted in a boss 133 on the rear end of frame V5 and held against rotation by a pin 139 which extends through the boss and through the rod. Therefore, when the um i lig@

gear 122 is rotated b the gear Wheel 121, the gear Wheel 122 carries the segment 123 into engagement with the bevel gear 124, rotating the bevel gear to rotate the gearivlieel 131 through its shaft 126.

The gear Wheel 131 meshing' with the pinion 134 drives the pinion, causing it to thread itself rearwardly on the threaded shalt 137 to draw the carriage rearwardly of the niacl'iine on the rails G and 101. This movement of the carriage carries the clamps avvay from the cams 99, releasing the shafts 96 which are carries the needle 141.r

then thrust inwardly by springs 95 to advance and close the ja 4 on the parts of the bag` Within the clamp slots, so that When the bag is moved eti o" the seat 69 it is suspended from thev clamps 70 and 71 and the gear Wheels 83, rolling on the lined racks 118 and 119, rotate the clamps to roll the open end of t-he bag and carry it to a sewing mechanism. At the time the carriage align-s with the sewing mechanism hereinafter described, the segment 123 has moved from engagement With the gear Wheel 124 and iri-ther movement or the carriage stops until the tying,l operation is completed.

The tying or sewing mechanism (Figs. 10 to 15 inclusive) comprises a helical-shaped needle 141 Which is threaded through and over the roll of the bag` by the following mechanism: Y

The needle 141 is carried upon the end of an elongated pinion 142 threaded on a screw shaft 143 that is liXed in ay bracket 144 on the side frame 2, so that When the pinion is rotated, the needle is rotated and ied longitudinally of the screw shaft` to thread it through a spiral opening 83 in the gear Wheel 83 of the extension 85 of the. clamp 71 and through the bag. rlhepinion 142 is rotated by a segment 145 also carried on the 122 Aand meshing' With a bevel gear Wheel 146 lined on a shaft 147 extending across the niachine and mounted in bearings 148 and'149 in the respective sides oi the traine.

The shaft 147 (F 1 and 2) carries a sprocket wheel 150 which, through a chain 151, drives a sprocket wheel 150 'ri a shaft 152 carrying a gear Wheel 153 joui'nalled in the side traine 2.. The gear Wheel 1532-3 meshes with and rotates the pniion 142 which As the needle nears the end of its forward tr vel, a spring clamp 17, 18 and v1Q) ii 'l in a r'. in the end ol the needle by rii y at 1537, engages a striiiej holding' devi/se to open the spring' clamp so that it ma); receive the string.y The clamp comprises 5 158 having` cam-shaped engageable with the' st to raise the clamp against its spring; tension into position to engage the string 160. The string holder, which retains the string` in position to be gripped by the needle, prises a longitudinally grooved cylinder 161 the mevr/oe slidablv keyed by a pin 162 on a shaft 163 supported in bearings 164 and 165 on the carriage 112, the cylinder being normally urged against the bearingby a spring' 161 coiled about the shaft and bearing at its opposite ends against the cylinder and against a button 163 on the end of the shaft. Pro- ]ec ially from the periphery ot' the A@ cylinder, between the grooves 161 are pairs o1' pins 168 'lor guiding the string across the grooves in position to be engaged by the needle clamp, so that on its return travel the needle may pull the loose end ot' the string from between the pairs of pins at the lett ot the needle (Fig. 17), the reel endet' the being retained between the pair of pins at the right of the needle. Alter the Vneedle clamp receives the string in its slot,

the needle continues to nieve forward until the cam 159 leaves the string holdingl dcvice and the clamp drops into its groove in the needle and holds the string. On' return et. the needle the cam 159 again contacts the string holder, but on this return movement causes the holder to move along' rails and 101 above and in line with the needle are disks 174 and 175. Attached to the peripheries of said disks by rivets 176 are curved arms 177 and 178 (Fig. 12), each comprising tlat spring' members 179 and 180 provided on their tree ends with gapping' jaws 179 and 180 which are noi"- mally open to receive the string as presently described, the tree ends of the arins extendk ing away from the disks a sullicient distance to enter between the spirals of the needle, as` sioWn in Fig. 13, when the disks are rotated. Rotation of the disks is effected by mechanism comprising a` gear .seenicnt 183 (Fig. 2), also lined to the upper race oit' the gear Wheel 122 and which meshes With a bevel gear Wheel 184 mounted on a tubular shaftv sleeved upon the shalt 147 betiveen the bevel vO'ear Wheels 146 and 170. Also lined to the shalt 185 is av sprocket Wheel 186 ivnich drives a sprocket wheel 187 on a shalt 188, rotatably mounted in the trame 173 through a cha-in belt 189. Fixed on the shaft 188 is a Worm gear 188that drives a vorm rear 190 on the diskv shainit 17 2 to drive' disk 175. llisk 174 is rotated in the oposite direction through a gear wheel 181 lined to the sha'lt 172 in mesh with a'gear Wheel 182 on the shaft 171. A

Rotation et the disks 174-175 causes the curved ari is 177-178 to move downwardly and outwardly in opposite directions Within the bevel gear Wheel 1116, and rotates ther shaft in an opposite direction.

As the needle is Withdrawn, the string is threaded in loops through and over the roll 120 at the top of the bag and is drawn through the javvs 179 and 180 and over the ends of the arms, as shown in Fig. le. After the needle is Withdraw/ii and the jaws `have lgripped thev string, as described, the arms are returned to'thoir former position by a segn'ient 192, a so on the gear 122, coming into engagement h bevel gear 193 on the tnbular shaft opposite and fac-ing the gear 18a, so that the rotation of the shaft is reversed and the disks are returned. Gn return travel of the disks, the arms 178-1T9 bear against a Wheel 19% pivoted on the frame 113 -between the disks, `which closes the jaws to grip the string and draw the ends of the string through the loops ,through which the arms have projected daring fo `Ward movement of the disks, the segment 192 remaining in engagement with the bevel gear wheel long enough for the arms to pull. the loops up tight about the roll. After this operation the gea-r segment 123 on the gear Wheel comes into engagement with the bevel `gear Wheel 125 on shaft 1243 to drive the shaft in a reverse direction to that of its initialA movement, rotating the pinion les in a reverse direction to return the carriage for anF other bag. is the carriage starts to ret-urn the dislrs 10-1 on the clampshafts engage the inclined faces 195 (Fig. 10) of pivoted release iarms .196 and 19T carried by the rails 10() and 101,-shiftin0' the javvs against 'the tension of their springs and permitting them to drop the from them chine down a' chiite 198 ulls the strinf over a Velia )ed knife 199 (ld ig. 9) mounted on one of the arms f the bearings 16a-165 on the carriage 112 to sever the string,l and free the bag.

The cam arms 196 and 197 are pivot-ed as at200 to the rails andv held infunctional position against stop pins 201lhy springs 202, one end of each spring being fastened to a heel( 2,03 on the rin and the other to a pin '204e on the rail. llVhent-he carriage moves in a foiivardnireetion (left toright in Fig. 10) the dislis strike theupper .rear edges 205of the arms and roch them out of the Way under the tension ofthe springs 202 which, after the disks have passed, return the arms to their former positions so that when flour is rele the gripping effect of the jaws is not interfered with, but as the `carri-age returns, the arms are held in functional position by Athe stop pins and the disks strike the inclined faces on the arms, forcing the disks and their rods outward .to canse the jaws to release.

On the next forward movement of the carriage, the string' gripping cylinder is .advanced to carry they string across the parts iof the needle by the following` mechanism:

y The shaft 163 (lllig. 17) extends beyond the hearino 1(51 and lined on the extension vof the shaft is a ratchet kWheel 208, operahle 'by a ratchet .pavl209 pivoted to an arin 221() carried upon a' tubular shaft 211 sleevedon the end of the shaft 11323 and held vthereon by a collar 212 formed at the 'end of the shaft.

The tubular shaft 211 Vcarries a ,pin 21e which is received in a spiral slot 21.5' in a sleeve 216 carried on a bracket 217 on the rail 100, that When the `carriagemoves `riorivardly the tubular shaft carrying' the ratchet arm nieves Within the sleeve 216 and the pin `21%A traveling in the slot `215 rotates the shaft to cause the ratchet to advance the `groove-d cylinder vand Vposition' the v`string to be engaged by the needle `as before. The string is carried on a reel 218 mounted on the under si. Le of the carriage and vis .guided rto kthe cylinder over a rollerv 219.l

Assuming the parte to be constructed and 'assembled as described, the operation is as follow-see' The pulley on the shaft 18 Wheel 'is constantly rotated because of its connection With the source of power (not shown) through thel belt 21.

An operator slips a bag over one of the inandrels' 13 so that it is supported at its y lower end `on the table 1'? and presses on the button ,28, shiftingthe rod 86 to carry the clutch member 25 into-mesh with `the clutch member 26 on the pulley 22 and simultane oiislv rele g the hook i0. The shaft 1b is thereupon rothe bevel gear Wheel 28 from tated, rotating the bevele'ear ivheel28 and y the shaft 29, the latter ving With it the segmental r Wheel 31. TVT@Then the teeth on the .gear 'Wheel 131 reach lthe pinion.- 82 the latter is rotated, r tatingthe shaft 33 andL the pinion 34. rvllhe pinion 811 being in mesh With the teeth on the periphery of thetuintable 10, thetnrntable is carried about fora part revolution represented by the teeth of the gear Wheel 31 and until the mandrel carrying the bag,` is brought beneath the-spontl sed through the Aspout v to' fill the portion of tne bag projecting beneath the'niandrel and .fill the mandrel to the proper depth. ilhen the turntable has remained stationary aV lsuilicient length. of time to permit `the mandrel to fill, the` toothed i por-` tion of the gear, Wheel 31 again comes into mesh with thejpinion 32, and the pinionshaft 38 and pinion Se are againrotated to advancek the turntable another step, this second movement carrying the mandrel (j ust mentionet beneath the packing plunger 43. which is timed to be. lowered into the mandrel Vand pack the `flour therein as soon as the mandrel assumes the packing position; actuation of the plunger being effected by lowering of the elongated pinion 40 by its rotation upon the screw 53 under influence of the gear wheel 59 on the shaft 58 driven by the pinion 57 meshing' with the segmental rack 61 on the horizontal gear wheel 62 driven from the gear wheel 55 which is also fired on the shaft and opern able from the main shaft 18 through the bevel gear mechanism heretofore described. As soon as the plunger has been lowered and has e performed its packing operation the elongated pinion elevated to lift the plunger out of the mandrel by engagement of the pinion 57 by a segmental rack 56 on the shaft 55, the racks -56 and 5T operating alternately and in opposite directions to raise and lower the pinion at timed intervals. f

vVVihen the packing plunger is operated as described, and has leftfthe mandrel for its return movement, the segmental gear wheel 31 will have again engaged the pinion 34 on vthe shaft'SB and the turntable will be advancedanother step, this movement carrying the bag off of the table 17 onto a platform 69 suspended fromthe vertically movable V"arm 66 that is connected with the elongated pinion 49. At this point the pinion 57 is again engaged by the segmental rack 61 and rotated to lower the elongated pinion, t-he plunger 64 and the platform 69, the table remaining stationary so that the bag and its contents are moved olf the mandrel to the position indicated in Fig. 8. The clamps and 71 being located at this extruding position, the bag is moved down between them so that when the packedV partV of the bag has passed the clamps, opposite edges of the bag will be positioned between the jaws of the clamp, this positioning being facilitated by the fingers 72 and 73 connected to and forming parts of the extruding plunger structure. The clamps TOand 71 being mounted on the platform 112 and the platform 112 beings timed to move rearwardly when the extruding plunger has completed its downward stroke,

the clamps are moved back, releasing `the contained grippers because of the release of the disk 104 from the cams 102, and the edges of the bag are ,now held firmly in the clamps, the grips ofwhich are sufficiently strong to sustain the weight vof the .packed bag; rearward movement of the platform inducing rearward vtravel of the clamps which, upon such inovement, are rotated because of the engagement of their pinions 83 with the stationary racks 118 and 119, and this rotation of the clamps winding the top, loose portion ofthe bag so that the 'mouth ofthe bag is folded over to closethe same. ll/Vhen'the mouth of the bag convolutions of the needle and Leontine has been closed as described, the clamps come to a halt beneath the sewing. mechanism.

As previously mentioned in description of detail structure, movement of the platform 112 is effected by rotation of the pinion 139 that. is anchored to the platform along the contained stationary screw 137, the pinion being rotated by the meshing gear wheels 132 and 131, the lat-ter on the shaft 126 which receives its reverse motion fo-r effecting backward and forward movement of the platform through the bevel gears 124 and 125, operable byA the gear segment123 on the wheel 122 driven from the shaft 121 which in turn is driving from the gear wheel 55 on the shaft 29 (heretofore mentioned).

is soon as the bag comes to rest at the needle position, the needle starts its convolute travel through the lapped mouth of the sack, the rotary and longitudinal movement of the elongated pinion 142 being effected through the mounting' of the pinion on the screw 143, and operation of the pinion. through thel gear wheel 152 operable from the sprocket wheel 158, operable by the belt 151 from the sprocket wheel 150 by the sprocket wheel 149 on the shaft 14'.7 carrying the gear wheel 146 which is, in turn, operated by the horizontal gear segment 145 on the upper face of the gear wheel 122 heretofore mentioned.

As the needle reaches the end of its convolute travel, its point contacts the string holding cylinder, opening the clamp on the end of the needle to permit the needle to grip the string so that when the needle starts its backward travel it'may pull the stringV with vit through the lapped portions of the bag.

lll/Then the needle has gripped the string, however, there is an interruption of travel, and

during this interruption the disks 174 and 175 are rotated oppositely because of rotation of the. gear wheels 181vand 182 through their inter-meshed engagement, and through operation of the worms 190, 189, the shaft- 188, belt 189, sprocket wheel 186, tubular shaft 185, bevel gear wheel 184 and the horizontal gear segment 183 on wheel 122; this movement of the disks carrying the spring arms 179 and 180voppositely and outwardly beneath two positioning the .fingers 179 and 180 oer 'the nent louter convolution. At this point movement of the disks is interrupted and travel of the needle is reversed, the clamp on the free end of the needle pullingthe string with it so that'as'the needle unwindsfrom the overlapped mouth of the bag,the lstring is drawn through it to kform the rloop or stitch, reverse movement lli) advanced. ris soon as the needle has been Withdrawn from the bag, the travel the dislzs 1T Ll and 1'4"*5 is reversed, the bevel Wheel 193 of the tubular sha'tt 185 now meshing with the segmental raclr 192 1thewivheel 22. TWhen the gears start their naclnverd movement the spring arms the wheel 194, press the linger of the arms together and n when tie cause them to grip the string so t arms are pulled back through the c i ointions ot the string, the ends oi" the stiiny pulled with them and continuer; f o'f the dis liaiving the ends of the strin,5 tight to t ten the 'tchcs and bind th. edges of string between the last stitches. 7When the thread s been dra vu tight and tied asdescribed, l" ment of the disks ist.; inter-rui form 112 again moves Jjor. y Ward movement of the platform causing the clamps and 'l1 to rotate through their gear ant rack connections and tiv ing the corners of the bag.

Alfter the platform has moved a. s tance the collars 1011-. on the ends of t` 70 and 71 engage the cams 195 :ind 1 draiv the collars and the afft 96 o to spread the clamp and release the bag. The' bag now falls into the chute 198 tobe carried ont ci' th machine, the weight ot' the bag pulling the ends of the ,f-tr'ng ii om the clamp lingers of the tying' dimiI and the reel end or the string passing ov er the knife 199 to sever the string. `Continued forward movement of the platform 112 rotates the collar 211 to advance the string holding cylinder so that upon. the nent operation ci the needle it may pass beneath the string and grip the saine as heretofore described.

lllhile l have followed the movement ot one bag through the machine, other duplicate operations are at the sai Ae time being performed on succeeding. bags, the packing plunger operating on a succeeding bag While the extruding plunger is operating on a. preceding one, and the operation being repe uted as described jfor each oncoming ban l Vihat l claim and desire to secure by Letterselatentis Y 1. ln a machine oi' the character described, a string holder, a` convolute needle vcomprising ineans for gripping a string, and means .l Sil operating the needle in one direction to penetrate the bag and in reverse direction to draw the string through the bag in a convolute p ath.

2. in a machine of the character described, a convolute needle comprising a` string clamp, rotatable and longitudinally movable means to advance and return the needle, means e 3. ln a. machine of the character' described,

a. convolnte needle having a normally closed, spring jaw at its treel end, rotatable and longitudinally movable means ier advancing and returning the needle, and a string holder at one end ot the needle path engagea-ble by the needle to open the jaw to receive the string.

Il. ln a` machine oi the character described, a convolute needle having a slot in its free end, a. jaw spring mounted on the needle,`

voluticns ot the needle'atopposite ends of the needle path, means on the arms for gripping a string delivered by the needle, and means lor reciprocating the arms to finally With- Ilnew the ends oi' the strings through convolutions the-reci co `'responding toVsaid needle convolutions.

6. ln a machine ot the character described, a eonvolute needle having a ja-vv at its yfree end, means for advancing and returning the needle, tying arms projectible through convclutions ot the needle at opposite ends of the needle path, means on the arms tor gripping a string delivered by the needle, means for reciprocating the arms .to finally Withdraw the ends of the strings through convolutions .thereof corresponding to said needle convolutions, and means operable on said arms during their lreturn movement to maintain the gripping action.

'7. In a machine of the character described, al eonvolute needle having a jaw vat its 'free end, means lfor advancing and returning the needle, tying arms projectible through convolutions or' the needle at opposite ends of the llO needle path, comprising spring lingers for receiving a string between them, means tor reci procating the arms and a pressing member engageable by the arms on their return travel to maintain the lingers in their gripping relation.

` 8. In a machine of the character described, a eonvolute needle having a jaw at its free end, means for advancing and returning the needle, reversely rotatable disks, tying arms on said disks having free ends projectible through convolutions at opposite ends of the needle and comprising spring fingers n0rnially open to receive a string delivered thereto by the needle, and a rollerengageable"with the arms on their return travel to maintainl iat having a jaw at its'ree end for gripping a string, means for advancing and returning the needle, tying' members engageable with the string and movable through convolutions thereof formed by the needle, and means for opening the grippers to release the bag.

l0. In a machine of the character' described, spaced racks, a reciprocating` platform, gear wheels j ournalled on the platform and engaging the racks, the gear wheels having slotted extensions, spaced jaws keyed for longitudinal movement within the extensions, means yieldingly urging the jaws to closed relation, means normally retaining the jaws open, means for passing a. bag to project portions thereof into said slots and between the jaws, means tor releasing the aws to grip the bag, a convolute needle having` a gripping on its free end, means for advancing and returning' the needle, mea-ns for presenting a string to the needle jaw, means 'or tying the ends of the string, and means for cut-ting the string.

l1. In a machine of the character described, spaced grippers adapted for engaging a bag, means for conducting the grippers Vfrom a bag-receiving station `to a bag-sewing station, means for actuating the grip-pers to turn a told on a bag, a convolute needle movable across the line or" travel of said grippers, andineans for rotating the needle during its travel.

l2. Ina machine of the cl'iaracter described, spaced grippers adapted for engaging a bag, means for conducting the grippers trom a 13. In a machine of the character described, A

spaced gripper-s automatically operable to grip and support a bag, means normally restraining the grippe-rs, means for feeding a bag to thev grippers, means for shifting the grippers to release the grippers and eilect transfer of a bag to a sewing station, means for operating the grippe-rs to turn a fold on a bag, needle mech anism. movable transversely oi the machine and comprising a convolute needle having a jaw grasping a string, means for effecting opening and closing of the needle jaw, and mea-ns tor rotating the needle during its transverse travel.

lll. In a. machine of the character described, means for turning a fold on a bag, a reciprocating needle carrier, means for imparting simultaneous longitudinal and rotary movement to said carrier, a convolute needle having one end attached to said carrier and havino' aI jaw at its opposite end, and means for operating the aw at the end ot forward travel of the needle to effect application of a string to thejaw. l ,I

In testimony whereotl I aliix mysignatnre.

JOSEPH R. BARTLETT. 

